"I had been told the chest would have to be opened. It wasn't the only path."
How re-evaluating a case with a prior indication for sternotomy led to a minimally invasive approach — and completely transformed the recovery.
When a patient is told she needs cardiac surgery, one of the first questions — almost always the very first one — is: "will my chest have to be opened?"
In this case, the initial answer the patient had received was yes. The prior indication pointed to sternotomy — opening the central bone of the chest to access the heart, the most traditional and still most widely used approach in cardiac surgery.
The re-evaluation
Upon re-evaluating the case, it was identified that the anatomy and the type of procedure required allowed for a different approach: minimally invasive cardiac surgery, performed through small incisions, without the need to saw the sternum.
"The access route is not a matter of preference — it's a matter of indication. Each case needs to be looked at individually, because sometimes there is a path that hasn't been considered yet."
What changes in practice
The difference between the two approaches isn't just the size of the incision. It's in the entire postoperative experience:
- No sternum opening — no period of arm-movement restriction and no risk of complications related to bone healing.
- Less surgical trauma — less pain in the immediate postoperative period.
- Faster recovery — a quicker return to daily activities.
- Different aesthetic result — smaller, more discreet incisions.
The outcome
The surgery was performed via the minimally invasive route. Recovery followed the expected pattern for this type of approach — significantly faster than would be expected from a conventional sternotomy.
This case illustrates a central point in how Instituto Poffo evaluates each patient: the first indication is not necessarily the only option. Before accepting "your chest will have to be opened" as a final answer, a second specialized evaluation is worth pursuing.
Your case may have an alternative that hasn't been considered yet
Every patient is evaluated individually. Schedule a consultation to understand which approaches are possible in your case.
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